Babbage from The Economist (subscriber edition)

The family of weight-loss jabs known as GLP-1 agonists are among pharma’s biggest blockbusters. But drugs like Ozempic have the potential to do much more than tackle diabetes and obesity. They have been found to treat cardiovascular and kidney disease, and they are also being tested for liver disease, Alzheimer’s and even addiction. If they live up to their promise, GLP-1s are set to transform health care. How can one class of drug do so much?Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Contributors: Caroline Messer, an endocrinologist in New York; Daniel Drucker of the University of Toronto; and The Economist’s Natasha Loder and Shailesh Chitnis. For more on this topic, listen to our podcast on the physiological and psychological causes of obesity—and why GLP-1 drugs could reshape the world.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

NASA’s multi-billion-dollar Europa Clipper spacecraft is on its way to Europa, one of Jupiter’s mysterious icy moons. The mission will investigate whether the moon, whose icy crust conceals a vast ocean of liquid water, might harbour the kind of environment suitable for alien life. In their search for life elsewhere, scientists have in recent years become much more interested in the outer solar system's icy moons, once considered too far from the Sun to plausibly support life. Europa Clipper is one of several probes heading to (or planned to travel to) those faraway worlds. Will they find signs that life could exist there?Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Contributors: Michele Dougherty and her team at Imperial College London; Nathalie Cabrol of the SETI Institute and the author of “The Secret Life of the Universe”; and The Economist’s Tim Cross.For more on this topic, listen to our podcast on the European Space Agency’s JUICE mission and our interviews with exoplanet hunters Didier Queloz and Jessie Christiansen.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The remarkable recent test flight of SpaceX’s Starship brought the world one step closer to a host of new possibilities beyond Earth (not least the colonisation of Mars). But as well as reducing the cost of sending stuff into space and opening up new business opportunities in Earth orbit, Starship will also play an important role in NASA’s plans to return to the Moon. Meanwhile, China has its own lunar ambitions, and a much simpler plan than America’s. Who will win this new space race?Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Contributors: Kari Bingen of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies; The Economist’s Tim Cross, Oliver Morton and Paddy Stephens.For more on this topic, listen to our podcasts on who owns the Moon, the new space economy, and the lunar South Pole.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

It’s been a big year for artificial intelligence—sealed by winning the highest accolades in the scientific world: the Nobel prizes. The innovations that underlie machine learning were recognised in the physics prize. And one of the most important scientific applications of machine learning won the chemistry prize. In the award for physiology or medicine, meanwhile, the discovery of micro-RNAs offers hope for a new generation of therapeutics. In this episode, we examine the winning discoveries and investigate how they could transform the world.Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Contributors: The Economist’s Natasha Loder, Geoff Carr and Emilie Steinmark.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

The world can be an unpredictable and uncertain place. While some people relish those uncertainties, others become crippled by anxiety. Our guest has a way to help: mathematics. Specifically, statistics. Get better at spotting patterns and you’ll gain an understanding of the real nature of risk, chance and luck. Used properly, the surprising science of statistics can provide a sense of order to the risks of everyday life and could even help us make wiser decisions. Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor, speaks to Sir David Spiegelhater, a professor of statistics at the University of Cambridge and the author of “The Art of Uncertainty”.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

For half a century, the exponential increases in computing performance have powered the digital age. These gains were achieved by shrinking the components on computer chips, meaning that each new generation of semiconductor technology has been faster and more efficient than the last. But, with engineers now facing limits to how much further silicon chips can shrink, and ever-increasing demand thanks to the AI boom, chipmakers are having to get creative. What are the technical innovations they hope will keep the world’s AI ambitions on track?Host: Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor. Contributors: Shailesh Chitnis, The Economist’s global business correspondent; Eric Pop of Stanford University; David Patterson, professor emeritus of the University of California, Berkeley; and The Economist’s Rachana Shanbhogue.Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Kathy Willis, a biodiversity professor at the University of Oxford, dives into the healing power of nature. She shares compelling research on how being in green spaces can enhance physical and mental health. Discover why the scent of certain trees boosts immune functions and how birdsong aids pain management. Personal stories illustrate nature’s role in therapy, showing it as a promising alternative to conventional treatments. Willis emphasizes the vital need for equitable access to nature for overall well-being. Nature isn’t just a backdrop; it’s crucial for health!

In this enlightening discussion, Abby Bertics, a tech researcher at the Geometric Intelligence Lab with a knack for science writing, explores the quest for artificial general intelligence. The conversation unveils the limitations of current large language models and proposes innovative approaches to integrate reasoning and knowledge. Bertics highlights the need for AI to truly grasp concepts, not just pattern-match. The ethical implications of creating superintelligent machines are examined, raising questions about the balance between potential benefits and inherent risks in this advancing field.

The discussion centers on the fascinating concept of artificial general intelligence (AGI), exploring its historical evolution and current goals among tech giants. Experts dissect the complexities of defining AGI and its comparison to human cognitive abilities. The conversation also highlights how AI has shifted from basic programming to advanced machine learning. Philosophical questions about human cognition and the risks of AGI are raised, alongside the implications of recent technological advancements like GPT-4. It's a thought-provoking look at AI's future.

In this insightful discussion, Gascia Ouzounian, a music professor at Oxford, illuminates the historical significance of sound detection. Tom Withington, an air defense expert, analyzes its resurgence in contemporary warfare. Ben Sutherland, a security reporter, shares intriguing updates on its effective use in Ukraine against Russian aerial attacks. The conversation reveals how innovations in acoustic detection, once dismissed, are revolutionizing military strategies and sparking interest globally.